Expedition Gear Series

Guide to Electrical Outlets around the World

By Sara Tiffany

One of the most frequent questions we get here at Berg Adventures is “How can I charge my electronics while I am traveling? What kind of plug adaptor will I need?” The answer to the first questions will vary from trip to trip – on some of our trips you will have access to electrical outlets nearly every night (i.e. Everest Base Camp Trek and Mount Elbrus) and on others you will rarely have power (i.e. Kilimanjaro and Aconcagua). The second question is easier to answer.

What kind of plug adaptor will I need?

There are two things to consider when charging electronics abroad. First of all, you will need to know which physical sockets the country you are visiting uses. See our list of countries below to figure out which plug is commonly found. You can purchase individual adapter for the country you are planning to visit or you can purchase a multi-plug kit which will transform into just about every type of adaptor you will ever need. You are most likely to find adapter of all sorts at airports and travel stores, but the easiest way to find them is online. Amazon.com sells a wide variety of models.

The second question you need to ask yourself is, “Will I need an electrical converter?” In North America, standard electricity comes out of the wall at 110 - 120 volts, in many countries this is not the case. Around the world, 220 to 240 volts is more common. That said, many North American devices are not designed to withstand 220 volts of electricity, so you will need to use a converter which lowers the voltage and prevents you from “frying” your electronics. But do not fret. These days many chargers and devices have a built-in converter or are designed to withstand a higher voltage. The best thing to do is to read the labels on your chargers and devices to know if you will need a voltage converter or not.

Below, you will find a table of an alphabetical list of the countries to which Berg Adventures travels. Under each country we have listed the standard voltage along with the type of plugs and outlets you will find there.

If you have any additional questions about charging your devices abroad, we are happy to answer them for you!